I. nounEtymology: probably ultimately from Lingua Franca gamba leg, from Italian, from Late LatinDate: circa 1785slanglegII. nounEtymology: perhaps short for obsolete gammon talkDate: 18461. a visit or friendly conversation at sea or ashore especially between whalers
2. a school of whales
III. verb(gammed; gamming)Date: 1849intransitive verb
to engage in a gam
transitive verb1. to have a gam with
2. to spend or pass (as time) talking

gam — ☆ gam1 [gam ] n. [prob. &LT; Scand, as in Norw, Swed dial. gams, loose conversation &LT; ON gems, akin to GAME1] 1. a social visit 2. a social visit or conversation between the crews of ships, esp. whaling ships, at sea 3. a school of whales vi.… … English World dictionary

Gam — (g[a^]m), v. t. (Naut.) To have a gam with; to pay a visit to, esp. among whalers at sea. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Gam — (g[a^]m), n. [Orig. uncert., perh. from gammon, talk.] 1. (Naut.) A herd, or school, of whales. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2. A visit between whalers at sea; a holding of social intercourse between those on different vessels at sea, or (Local U. S.)… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English